Mandatory licensing for houses in multiple occupation has changed

The law relating to shared houses or houses in multiple occupation has changed. From 1 October 2018, landlords of most houses in multiple occupation (HMO's) that house five or more people and not a single household will need to have applied for an HMO licence. We are now accepting licence applications for any properties that meets the new requirement.

A landlord who fails to apply for a licence by that date will be committing a criminal offence.

Summary of changes

All HMO's with five or more people living in two or more households, regardless of the number of storey's in the property, will need to be licensed. This includes any flat which contains five or more people living in two or more households where the flat has not been purpose-built to multiple occupant standards. This applies to flats above or below commercial premises.

All licensable HMO's will have a national minimum room size for each bedroom.

If you already have a licence from my local council

Properties already licensed with the local council will be transferred into the new mandatory licensing and will not need to take further action.

Applications need to be made before the new rules come in on 1 October 2018. Landlords should start reviewing their properties now in preparation for the changes.

West Suffolk councils are putting systems in place to enable formal applications to be made as soon as possible once the Government makes the final orders and publishes its official guidance. Keep a look out for our updates and notifications that applications can be made.